Magnetic device



Oct. 14, 1958 spop g 2,855,786

MAGNETIC DEVICE Filed Jan. 28. 1954 United States Patent MAGNETIC DEVICE Heinrich Spodig, Lunen, Westphalia, Germany Application January 28, 1954, Serial No. 406,639 Claims priority, application Germany January 30, 1953 Claims. (Cl. 74-210) The present invention relates to magnetic devices.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a permanent magnet system which is a development of the magnet system described in my U. S. Patent No. 2,613,246, wherein there is provided a pair of permanent magnet members between which a soft iron plate is arranged having approximately the same size as the pole end surfaces of the magnet members, and at the opposite ends of which magnets a pair of soft iron plates are provided which project beyond the pole ends of the permanent magnets. This system has magnetic lines of force which run from the similarly polarized outer soft iron plates to the magnetic center of concentration of the system which is formed in the other soft iron plate lying between the permanent magnets.

It has been found that this magnetic principle, wherein a double pole is arranged opposite two single anti-poles, may also be utilized for other purposes than those described in the above-mentioned patent. Without changing the magnetic principle, the magnetic system constructed in accordance with the present invention may be employed for mechanical operations. Such operations may include rolling or running procedures, in the transmission of turning moment and the like.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic device of the above type suitable for use in mechanical operations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved magnetic drive device which has great attraction for mechanical parts associated with the magnetic device for performing mechanical operations.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic drive of the above type suitable for transmission of turning moments of mechanical devices.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a magnet device of the above type which may be used as a conveyor means.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a magnet device of the above type which may be used with a template for reproducing the form thereof.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in a magnet device which comprises broadly a spindle member composed of magnetizable material, a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of the spindle member, respectively, and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of the permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other.

The magnetic system produced in accordance with the invention has a magnetic field of force which extends from both similarly polarized rims of the cup-shaped members to the central portion of the magnetized spindle, since this central portion, being doubly polarized,

forms a magnetic center of concentration in the center of the magnetic system of the present device.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through an embodiment of the present device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an application of the present device;

Fig. 4 is a View of another application of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of still a further embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section of still a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a magnet system which includes a spindle member 1 composed of magnetizable or magnetically conductive material and a pair of permanent bar magnet 22' which are connected to the opposite ends of spindle 1 and extend therefrom in axial direction, the bar magnets 22' being arranged with like poles on the end faces of spindle 1 and firmly attached thereto. At the opposite like poles of bar magnets 22 there are provided two cup-shaped members 3 and 4 composed of magnetizable material such as soft iron, the members 3 and 4 being secured at their inner bottom surfaces to the opposite ends of bar magnets 2-2. As shown in the drawings, the rims 5 and 6 of the respective cupshaped members 22' are arranged symmetrically about the bar magnets and facing each other, and are spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to the length of spindle 1.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, there is shown a magnetic system which is similar to that of Fig. l, the essential difference being that a pair of pole shoes 7 and 8 are provided between the end faces of spindle 1 and the end faces of bar magnets 22'. Pole shoes 78 serve the purpose of concentrating the lines of force coming from the magnetic poles of barmagnets 22 and transmitting the same in reinforced condition to the spinle 1. In addition, this embodiment includes axle portions 10 and 11 which extend axially from the bottomsurfaces of cup-shaped members 3a and 4a outwardly of the magnet system, the axle portions 10 and 11 serving as a prolongation of spindle 1.

In a further embodiment of a magnetic device in accordance with the invention, as shown in the Fig. 5, the spindle 1a may be provided with grooves 1b extending around its periphery, this construction being provided so that the present device may serve as a magnetic transport roller for carrying elongated material, such as tubes or pipes. For the purpose of providing a greater carrying surface for supporting the material to be transported not only may the spindle be profiled, but the spacing between the rims of the cup-shaped members may be enlarged, as by increasing the length of the spindle member.

Also shown in Fig. 5 is an embodiment wherein the cup-shaped members may be filled with non-magnetic or non-magnetizable material 20, instead of leaving the space in the cup-shaped members empty.

In a further embodiment as shown in Fig. 6, the cupshaped members 3b and 4b may be formed with axially extending openings 21 which may be filled with non-mag- Patented Oct. 14, 1958 netic material 21a. The annular pole faces a and 6a in this way are provided with magnetic breaks or interruptions corresponding to the size of the openings 21. Instead of providing openings as shown in Fig. 6, the end faces 5a and 6a may be .serrated in other forms.

In accordance with the polarity .arrangemcnts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, spindle .1 is connected to both N-poles of the bar magnets, while the S-poles are each connected to the soft iron cup-shaped members 3 and 4. Due to this arrangement, a magnetic flux is produced, of which half flows from rim 5 and the other half from rim 6 of the other cup-shaped member and into the magnetic center of concentration of the system, that is, on the central portion of the doubly polarized magnetic spindle 1. The magnetic system is non-magnetic at its remaining surfaces.

The present magnetic system may be utilized as a feeler for exploring surfaces, for example, of the edges of a template for reproduction on objects or for profiling the same.

In Fig. 3 there is shown an arrangement wherein the present magnetic system is incorporated in a reproduction apparatus in which a template 9 is to be copied. The disc-shaped template 9 which forms a part of a reproduction apparatus, not shown, is composed of magnetizable material and is inserted into the gap formed between the spaced rim 5 and 6. The strong magnetic flux which flows from rims 5 and 6 to spindle 1 passes through template 9, whereby there is produced a strong adherence between the template edge and the spindle 1. Upon turning the system, which turning may be produced by the reproduction machine not shown, the magnetic spindle 1 rolls along the edge or guiding surface of template 9 and thereby transfers the form of template 9 to the work piece. In contrast to the known feeler systems, the present magnetic feeler arrangement gives assurance of a satisfactory and absolutely accurate transfer of the prescribed path constituted by template 9. Furthermore, there is also afforded by the strong adherence of the present magnet device to the template 9 remarkably rapid work operation, i. e. an accelerated exploration of the template, and thereby an increase in the rate of output.

The present magnetic system may be used as the driving or driven element, i. e., a gear element, in current meters, couplings, measuring instruments, as well as genorally in other devices in which there are turning or rolling movements or operations. Fig. 4 shows the incorporation of the present device in such an apparatus. In this arrangement there is provided a rotatable shaft 12 parallel to the axle portions 10 and 11 of the present magnetic device, shaft 12 having arranged thereon a magnetizable disc 13 of such thickness that it may be inserted in the gap between members 3a and 4a, the periphery of disc 13 lying against spindle 1. During the turning of the magnetic device, the disc 13 rolls on spindle 1 and thereby sets shaft 12 in rotation. It is also possible to provide the reverse arrangement, wherein rotation of shaft 12 and disc 13 causes a turning of the magnetic system about its axis.

In the various embodiments described above, the greatest adherence of the magnet device to the mechanical part with which it is associated is achieved when the mechanical parts, e. g., members 9 or 13, are placed in the gap of the magnet device exactly in the middle of spindle 1, that is, the inserted mechanical part is spaced equidistant from the rims 5 and 6 of the cup-shaped members 3 and 4. In this way, a uniform magnetic flux flows from rims 5 and 6 through the inserted mechanical part to the magnetic center of concentration of the system on spindle 1, and there is thereby produced an absolute magnetic state of equilibrium.

The magnetic force at spindle 1 which is particularly strong in the present magnetic device can also be varied asdesired. To accomplish this, a sleeve of non-magnetic material may be placed around spindle 1, which reduces the magnetic attraction of the spindle in accordance with v the thickness of the sleeve as shown by sleeve 22 in Fig. 6.

It is also possible, in addition to the above applications of the present device, to utilize the present device in combinations of several units, i. e., by arranging the units adjacent one another or in consecutive order, for the purposes of shifting operations or other particular purposes.

It should be understood that the form and size of the illustrated magnetic systems may be varied without going beyond the scope of the invention, and various modifications may be made in the construction of the devices illustrated without changing the inventive concept. Thus, it is to be understood that the non-magnetic sleeve 22 shown in Fig. 6 may be provided on other embodiments of the device than the one shown in Fig. 6, and the filling of the cup-shaped members with non-magnetic material as shown in Fig. 5 may be carried out with any of the embodiments. It should also be understood that the present invention may also be incorporated in apparatus other than those shown in Figs. 3 and 4 for effective use thereof in accordance with the invention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of mechanical operations differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a permanent magnet device for use with a template or as a motion transmission element, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics 'of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member,

respectively, so that said spindle member forms a magnetic pole the polarity of which is that of said like pole ends of said permanent magnets; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other so that the rims of both of said cupshaped members form magnetic poles the polarity of each of which is that of said other like pole ends of said permanent magnets.

2. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle member.

3. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material and being recessed around its periphery; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged With their rims facing each other.

4. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a covering of non-magnetic material extending around said spindle member; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cupshaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanentmagnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other.

5. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle members, respectively, so that said spindle member forms a magnetic pole the polarity of which is that of said like pole ends of said permanent magnets; and a pair of cupshaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other so that the rims of both of said cup-sh-apedmembers form magnetic poles the polarity of each of which is that of said other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, said cup-shaped members being provided with axially extending non-magnetic wall portions.

6. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle members, respectively, said permanent magnets being of greater diameter than said spindle member and being provided with pole shoes at said like pole ends thereof tapering toward said spindle member; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other.

7. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, said cup-shaped members being filled with nonmagnetic material.

- 8. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, said cup-shaped members having axle portions projecting axially outwardly from the bottoms thereof.

9. A magnetic drive, comprising, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable materials; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, said cup-shaped members having axle portions projecting axially outwardly from the bottoms thereof; and rotatable transmission means having a shaft portion and a transverse disc thereon, said disc extending into the space between said rims of said cup-shaped members and being firmly adherent at its periphery to said spindle member for rolling engagement therewith during rotation thereof.

, 10. A magnetic drive, comprising, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending axially from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle member; and rotatable transmission means having a shaft portion and a transverse disc of magnetizable material thereon, said disc extending into said space between said rims and being firmly adherent at its periphery to said spindle member for rolling engagement therewith during rotation thereof.

11. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material and being recessed around its periphery; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle member.

12. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending axially from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle member, said cupshaped members having axle portions projecting axially outwardly from the bottoms thereof.

13. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their bottoms centrally thereof to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle member, said cup-shaped members being symmetrical with respect to said spindle member and said permanent magnets.

14. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a covering of non-magnetic material extending around said spindle member; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cupshaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle member.

15. A magnetic drive, comprising, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending axially from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively, said permanent magnets being of greater diameter than said spindle member and being provided with pole shoes at said like pole ends thereof tapering toward said spindle member; a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle member, said cup-shaped members having axle portions projecting axially outwardly from the bottoms thereof; and rotatable transmission means having a shaft portion and a transverse disc of magnetizable material thereon, said disc extending into said space between said rims and being firmly adherent at its periphery to said spindle member for rolling engagement therewith during rotation thereof.

16. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member, composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle member, said spindle member being formed with a plurality of spaced grooves extending around its periphery.

17. A magnetic drive, comprising, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a covering of non-magnetic material extending around said spindle member; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle member, said cup-shaped members being filled with non-magnetic material; and rotatable transmission means having a shaft portion and a transverse disc of magnetizable material thereon, said disc extending into said space between said rims and being firmly adherent at its periphery to said spindle member for rolling engagement therewith during rotation thereof.

18. A magnetic device, comprising, in combination, a spindle member composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from opposite ends of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup-shaped members of magnetizable material attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, the space between said rims being substantially equal to the length of said spindle :member, said cupshaped members being formed with axially extending openings filled with non-magnetic material.

19. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member having opposite end faces and composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from said opposite end faces of said spindle member, respectively; and a pair of cup-shaped members having at their rims annular end faces and composed of mag-netizable material, said cup-shaped members being attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, said annular end faces of said cup-shaped members being substantially coplanar with said opposite end faces of said spindle member.

20. In a magnetic drive, in combination, a spindle member having opposite end faces and composed of magnetizable material; a pair of permanent magnets connected at like pole ends to and extending from said opposite end faces of said spindle member, respectively, said permanent magnets being of greater diameter than said spindle member and being provided with pole shoes at said like pole ends thereof and tapering toward said spindle member; and a pair of cup-shaped members hav ing at their rims annular end faces and composed of magnetizable material, said cup-shaped members being attached at their inner faces to the other like pole ends of said permanent magnets, respectively, and arranged with their rims facing each other, said annular end faces of said cup-shaped members being substantially coplanar with said opposite end faces of said spindle member.

Great Britain Dec. 21, 

